Gerard is adamant that the attacks are not the result of an on-going feud.

“We have no quarrels with anyone, there is no reason in the world why someone would do this to us,” he said.

“And who would even think of doing such a thing to a young lamb.

“You cannot imagine what is inside that person’s head.”

During this spring’s lambing season, the McLaughlin’s say they have lost around 20 lambs to the attacks, and also two heavily pregnant sheep, which were carrying five lambs between them.

Despite efforts, which have included police surveillance with CCTV cameras, and private investigators, the family has never found any trace which would point towards the perpetrator.

Gerard says he is deeply frustrated by what he claims is the apparent lack of action by the police and government department - DARD.

“You see it often, these major operations against animal cruelty, and people are arrested,” he said.

“But this, what is happening here on this farm, is just the worst cruelty you can get.

“And yet it has been going on for over 20 years and is still going on.

“We have made hundreds of calls to police, the Department and to vets.

“How much more proof or evidence do they need?

“How many more animals will have to suffer and die like this, before these attacks are stopped?”

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: “Police have received numerous reports since 2000 of sheep mutilations at a farm in the Glenshane Road area. Police and a number of other specialist agencies have carried out full and thorough investigations and have continuously found no evidence of any offences having been committed. If anyone has a complaint about any police actions they should contact the office of the Police Ombudsman.”